Manly Men March into Semi Finals – Weekend Wrap 18th/19th March 2023

hat a match M1s was on the weekend. Seesawing this way and that, with both sides in the box seat at various times. But the Tahs came out on to and move to next week’s Semi Finals.

40 wickets in less than 2 days indicates a tough Manly Oval wicket, and let’s not sugar coat it, it was. However good team shut that adversity out and get on with the job.

A couple of standouts. The half century from Joel Davies in the 1st innings had to be seen to be believed. All batsmen were struggling, but Joel went on the counterattack to produce what was arguably a match winning half century.

Jack Edwards was also outstanding. 10 wickets for the match to show his true all-round talent, and 27 runs in the 2nd innings. Doesn’t sound like much but in the context of the game, it was everything.

Great contributions from Jake Carden with the ball in both innings, and a tide turning stumping to Jay Lenton were also standouts.

Ultimately a 35-run victory late on Sunday afternoon. We can’t take too much more of those stressful days, but the good guys getting the win is the most important thing.

ith M1s taking Manly Oval for their home ground, our Minor Premiership winning 2nd Grade side moved their home game to Pratten Park, home of Wests.

Losing the toss, St George sent us in on a fresh wicket, and it proved to play that way for most of the day. Some stoic batting from Lachlan Coyte, Jacob O’Sullivan, Bryn Mendel and Isaiah Vumbaca got us through most of the first day.

But it was the innings of Elliot Herd that won the game. Herdy hasn’t had a great season with the bat but showed his class with 89 off 192 balls to take the game away from St George on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

Defending 309, Andrew Jamieson got us underway with 3 quick wickets to reduce the opposition to 3/32, but from then on it was the Josh Seward show, bowling superbly to skittle St George for 86.

Another Semi-Final next weekend. Go Manly

he mighty 3rd grade side turned up for another exciting weekend is cricket, winning the toss and batting first. We clawed our way to 162 on a typically spicy Graham’s wicket. Great contributions from Ellis Raymond, Lachlan Charles and Andrew Boulton.

We then had the Bears in trouble early, having them 4/40 at the end of the 1st days play. We were then able to wrap their innings up fairly quickly on day 2, wickets shared with Dhillon, Boulton and Sunshine.

With plenty of overs left, we were sent in for our second innings, and despite a few shacks on a still green wicket, Sam Webber held the fort with a gritty 38* before the game was called midway through the last session.

hat a game of cricket M4s was on the weekend. Sydney had to win to stay alive and put in all they could, but the Waratahs were just able to come out on top.

The match was at Frank Gray because of Grahams not being available. We started off slow losing a few early wickets, but as he has done all year, Jake Hutchings showed his class with a brilliant half century.

Our lower order also showed plenty of resistance, with runs to Dunnachie, Kerr and Rochford getting us to 230.

With the ball, there was always an unwavering belief of victory throughout the side, but Sydney played a tough game if cricket and never gave in. Lachie Kerr bowled well throughout the innings across 21 overs, as did Dunnachie and Jake Hutchings.

With 4 runs needed for the win and 1 wicket in hand, the set Sydney batsmen attempted a second run to keep the strike, the throw from the deep was a bit off to the side, but ‘keeper extraordinaire Dom Wheeler had the presence to catch the ball cleanly, throwing off balance and hit the stumps for a last wicket run out. What a game, what a win.

robably the game of the weekend. Whenever a 5th Grade side needs to bat for 113 overs, it’s not something you say will be done with a lot of confidence. But that is exactly what these boys did on Sunday, forcing a Draw to knock Easts out of the finals and go through to next weekend’s Semi-Finals as still the #1 ranked side.

Fair play to Darcy Matthews from Easts who hit one of the great final’s innings of 156* off only 113 balls for Easts on Saturday to set-up a mammoth run chase for Manly. But our boys have shown plenty if grit this season and they were confident of showing it again.

Leading the way was Oscar Lucius. 84 off 193 balls was a huge dig in and helped anchor the innings. He was well supported by Matt Evans, Reiley Dunlop and Simon Waddington.

However, on Oscar and Simon’s dismissal there was still around 40 over to go, with the Tahs 7 down. Beau Kelly and James Waddington came together and batted under extreme pressure to finish the day off with not another wicket lost, Beau with 34* off 118 balls and James with 33* off 100 balls. The reverse sweep for 4 from James on the final ball was also a highlight.

What a great fighting draw from the side. They showed plenty of ticker, and proved they are going to be tough to beat in this competition.